Cryogenic thermometry with a common diode: type BAS16

Cryogenic test experiments often require a large number of temperatures to be monitored. In order to reduce cost, we investigated the feasibility of low-cost common diodes. We chose the Philips BAS16 diode in a type SOT23 package. By means of Stycast 2850FT, these diodes were glued into alumina holders. In total, 20 sensors were assembled and tested. With an excitation current of 100 μA and considering a temperature range from 50 K to room temperature, a quadratic least-squares-fit was obtained: T = 486.1 − 363.7V − 38.3V2. All sensors agreed with this fit within an error of 1.3 K.